"I am death," I said softly.
I then transformed into my 8-foot reaper form and revealed myself to everyone. Although I suppressed my aura of death to a minimum, every human in the room still felt suffocated, especially Elaine, who was the closest to me.
I quickly reverted back to my human form and allowed everyone to breathe.
"He's…he's a monster!" One of the 12 said in exclamation.
"If anyone wishes to leave, do it now. I will not stop you, neither will I hold it against you." I said them.
One at a time, the 12 Liberators began to leave. Each giving me a side eye filled with horror, disgust, or both.
"Wait!" Elaine screamed out. Everyone came to an abrupt halt upon hearing the scream.
"How many years have we been together, and what of these past months here? Being here with all of you gave me something to live for. We may have not known each other long, but we're still a family, aren't we? Each one of you have saved my life in the shadows in order to give me a normal life. Each one of you are special to me.
I know it will be hard to still work for Grayson and I know I'm being selfish, but I've lost each one of my family members; you guys are all I have so please… (sniff, sniff) please don't leave me. Please don't leave your family." Elaine cried out, tears and snot were now running down her face.
A long and heavy silence fell in the room, as all anyone could hear were the soft cries of Elaine.
"You're right, each of us see you and treated you like family, which is why it makes this so hard…sorry Elaine…but I think I share this feeling with everyone else, we can't stay here." One of the 12 said.
She looked at her trembling hands, clenched her fists, then walked out the door.
"Cringe." I said indifferently.
Immediately after, a majority of the 12 followed behind and left as well. There was now only Ace, Archer, and Elaine still left in the room with us. Archer stood there speechless as his entire body trembled. A feeling of frustration descended upon him; he didn't know what to do next.
"Archer?" Ace said out loud.
Archer then turned to me and asked, "You really won't hold it against us?"
"No, I won't." I said to him.
"We were killers long before we met you so, I am in no position to judge. However, even as killers we had a cause; an end goal to to the things we did. Ace believed if you want a world where your loved ones can be happy and live safely as well, you had to make this world a reality with your own hands. Otherwise, nothing will change.
We all had our reasons to join, but each of us abondaned our families in order to protect them from the powerful people we went up against. We killed for them. My father died getting himself involved with a ruthless gang called The Blood Gang. The gang had a powerful influence even amongst the authorities.
My little sister and I had to pay our father's debt, which was greatly exaggerated, after he died. For a while, I did petty crimes just to get by and pay off the debt. Gradually, my crimes increased, but it was not enough.
They took away my little sister and said she had to put her body to work to pay off the debt!" Archer began to say, now with clenched fists.
I could still see the anger, he still felt from the words he said, clearly on his face. His emotions still fresh even after so long.
"She was only 12!" Archer added, now looking enraged.
"If it weren't for Ace, I don't want to think about what could have happened to her. He was only there to do business with the gang. However, when they brought a 12 year old girl to him for entertainment, boasting about how she is untainted and was fresh goods, he couldn't stand it.
He ended up killing every person in that room that day, including the man we had to pay the debt to. He killed everyone, except for my little sister.
Ace put my sister into foster care, and took me in. Under Ace's protection, The Blood Gang couldn't make a move on us. Because of the crimes I committed, I could no longer live with my little sister as The Blood Gang had connections with the authorities and put an APB on me.
Each of the 12 have similar situations, hence the name The 12 Liberators. We all supported that cause.
So why? Why do you do all this? What is your cause? Why did the people we did all this for have to die as well…?!" Archer screamed out before getting cut off.
"Archer!" Ace shouted, as a drop of sweat ran down his face.
I then raised my hand towards Ace, signaling him to stop.
"They were a means to a much bigger goal." I answered Archer calmly.
"You see that? That's the reason none of us can stay and follow THAT!" Archer said to Ace whilst pointing towards my face. Ace then slowly turned my way only to see a spine-chilling smile across my face.
"How can he smile like that after all this?" Archer said disappointedly.
"Boss, I'm sorry, but that thing… I only stayed this long mostly out of fear and because you chose to stay, but partly also so I could get answers. None of us wanted to stay by him this long, but we always knew the choice you would make in the end. So, stay safe boss. Thank you, truly, thank you for all that you have done for us. Words will never be enough to express our gratitude." Archer said to Ace then walked away.
"Archer pleeeaase(sniff)." Elaine cried out, her face now covered in tears.
"Take care Elaine. If I were you, I would leave too." Archer said still walking away then walked out the door. Ace clenched his fists then clicked his tongue.
"Why! Why! Why! Why…!" Elaine screamed at me as she repeatedly beat on my chest. Her light slowly dimmed more and more.
"Why did you stay?" I asked her.
"I have nowhere else to go! Leaving here means dying out there! I can't trust anyone else, not when it comes to my life." Elaine screamed at me.
"I finally understand what makes your light so bright…hope! Hope in the good in all people, Hope that anyone is capable of being selfless. Hope that things will eventually work out for your good. An unwavering hope that carried you throughout every single day…after meeting me, that hope has greatly diminished.
Whatever that hope is however, I no longer care. You are no longer an enigma…nonetheless, you are still a responsibility. So, don't worry. I'll keep you safe." I said to her.
I then looked at Ace and asked him, "Why did you stay?"
"I stopped believing I could make my home safe the day I met you. You are an unstoppable force I cannot overcome, mentally or physically. I am not your match and honestly, at this point, it is much easier to be part of the problem than the solution. It normally is." Ace said to me with a straight face.
"HAHAHAHA…! Bold words…however, your hands just won't stop shaking." I said to Ace whilst laughing. "
Yes, I will…get that under control. If you will excuse me." Ace said gripping his hands together as he walked straight to his room.
Elaine then got herself up then went to her room as well. Neither of them got out of their rooms for two days straight. However, they would always sneak to meet each other in the nighttime. One fateful evening, I approached Elaine's room. I knocked on her door, but got no reply.
Through the eyes of Axelia, who was sitting cross legged across Elaine's room, I could see she was laying on her bed. Her body was deep beneath her covers. I then turned into a dark cloud and got in through the keyhole.
"It's already evening, care to go for a walk?" I asked her.
She then breathed out a long, heavy sigh before answering, "Sure."
She got up from the bed then immediately walked out of the room in her pajamas.
"Well, are you just going to stand there or are you coming?" She said to me still walking away.
We then headed out of the safehouse with Elaine taking the lead. It was a silent walk, with both of us just enjoying the evening breeze.
"I want a burger…I've been craving a burger." Elaine said as she sped walk towards a diner.
"Good evening Thomas." Elaine said as she walked into the diner.
"Elaine!" Thomas said in shock.
"I know I know, I haven't been here for a while. I'm fine though, all I want right now are your world-infamous burgers." She said to him.
"Slow day?" Elaine asked as she looked around the diner and saw no one else. "Closing early. I'm going to see my son in the hospital." Thomas said with a crack in his voice.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. What happened?" Elaine asked sympathetically.
"He got into an accident. He may have some permanent injuries to his spine." Thomas said with a gloomy face.
"Anyways, let me get my favorite customer my world-famous burger." Thomas added trying to force a smile.
Elaine then picked a table then we had our seats.
"Did you have anything to do with that accident?" Elaine immediately asked me after taking a seat.
"Not every death is caused by me you know." I said to her.
"Answer the question." Elaine said looking at me suspiciously.
With a heavy sigh I replied, "Probably not."
Some time passed then Thomas finally came out of the kitchen with a plate that had a big, juicy burger on it. There didn't seem to be much that was special about it. No leafy decorations around the plate or anything, like how you would see in high end hotels. It was just a simple burger. He placed the plate on the table and only just now noticed me sitting next to Elaine.
"Oh, I apologize. Did I not take your order?" Thomas asked.
"No need, I'm fine." I said to him.
"Thank you Thomas." Elaine said excitedly holding the burger in her hands. She then opened her drooling mouth to take her first bite. Suddenly, Thomas quickly pulled out a machete from behind him then swinged it towards my neck.
A dark hand then came from behind Thomas and grabbed his face. The dark hand then tapped Thomas' head. His body then swiftly went crushing to the floor.
"What the hell happened?" Thomas said out loud as blood leaked out of the back of his head.
"I had that." I said to Axelia.
"Of course, master, but lowlife like this is beneath you." Axelia said kneeling down.
"What's going on, Grayson what did you do?" Elaine exclaimed.
"It technically wasn't me." I quickly said to her.
"Wasn't you? First you kill my wife, then you cripple my son…are you incapable of taking responsibility for any of your actions. Just die already!" Thomas said with tears threatening to roll down his cheeks.
"I can forgive Elaine. She truly is a victim in all this, just like the rest of us. You however, you are a monster!" Thomas said exasperated.
"So that was your son! I guess I did have something to do with that…small world." I said actually shocked by the connection. I then recalled the man who had decorated Elaine's hands with deep cuts.
(sighs heavily)
"These attacks aren't going to stop. I'll just do things how every other reaper's planet does it, with an iron fist.
Axelia, take Elaine back to the safehouse." I said aloud. Axelia then revealed herself and attempted to pick up Elaine.
"What on earth is this thing!" Elaine asked in shock.
"Your official bodyguard." I said as I watched Axelia pick up Elaine then fly out the diner.
"Wait, my burger!" Elaine cried out in the distance.
I then picked up Thomas by his grey hair and raised him up to make sure he properly heard what I was about to say.
"Elaine loves your burgers so I'm going to let this little incident slide.
I would cripple you, like I did your son…but I'll only showing you mercy this one time because Elaine still breathes and eats your food with a smile. If either of these two factors change, I will break you.
So, next time you make her a meal, do it like your life depends on it, because it just might!" I said to him coldly then dropped him back on the floor.
I then walked out of the diner, and look up at the sky.
"Now, I change the world!" I said then teleported away.